, 1887-12-27
TRAVELLING III SIBERIA.
Miserable Horses OF tho Ynkoots-Th,
Gentle Reindeer and His Driver.

Miserable Horses OF the Ynkoots-Tho
Gentle Reindeer and His Driver.
Reindeer are much swiftcr and more
reliable than dogs or the miserable horses
81 the GakootS. And yet these hOrsCS are
not to be despised, for they supply "A need
that it would be difficult to reach with
other animals. They are very hardy and
require scarcely more attention than the
wilder animals in that country. 1t is not
necessary to provide food or shelter for
them They thrive and do much hard
work upon dead grass, twigs and dried
leaves that in winter they find by paving
of the snow from the ground. In sum
mcr it would be impossible to keep up
communication with the Russian outposts
in Siberia without these horses of the va
loots. Upon them is packed the mcr-
chandise for trade with the outlying tribes,
and they bring hack the furs that have
been gathered during the winter season.
Upon the obscure trail through those wild
Siberian wastes the summer traveller often
meets long lines of these animals tIudGiug
patiently along, sometimes twenty-five or
thirty in number, each one tied to the tail
uf his file leader.
During the winter, however, the gentle
reindeer move gaily along at n swift and
tsLSN lpNs lNp ulAsiCllth 10 tuCn Nlttl. anu
fastened by n line from the antlers IF one
to the sled in front of him. There may
be but one driver for half n dozen or more
slcds, and he sits on the right side of the
leading sled, guiding his team with n line
attached to n halter around the antlers
ard under the throat of the off leader.
y steady pull directs the team to the
right, and a series Of jerks is a suggestion
To go to the left. If, however, the leader
ncglects the signal, the driver jumps
from his seat and runs alongside of the
obstinate animal, which Immediately
makes a rush toward the opposite direc-
tion. An active and attentive driver &C.
cupics himself necessarily in keeping his
lean under full Roadway, and for that
purpose wields n long. thin stick or wand
with which he continually prods the poor
reindeer in the rear. Eventually he gets
a little sore place there by continued
p%rodding. and plies his relentless rod
upon that tender spot with the best re-
suits. Tho conscience that exists even in
n Hakoot or Tunguse yemshili has in
spired him TO put a wooden or bonc but
ton upon the emil of his goad to keep it
from penetrating too far.
When a reindeer is tired, ii lies down,
and no amount of punishment will get it
on its feet again until another is brought
to fireplace it from a number of spare ami
mails that are always tied behind the rear
hlc,l for that purpose. No matter how
much exhausted the weary animal seems
when removed from harness, it fcCuUcr-
ates very rapidly while running Lclliud
the sleds. and is soon ready to take its
turn at pulling. The usual gait of Il
reindeer team is n long. swinging trot;
but when in n great hurry, which is sell
dom the case with those lazy people, the
driver urges his team into n gallop. and
under such circumstances it is not un-
usual for them to make over twenty
versts about fourteen or fifteen miles,
mn hour. William III. Glider in Outing.